Goa a
state in India's West region, is a former Portuguese colony with rich
history. It is 3,700 km² with a population of approximately 1.4 million.
Goa has a unique mix of native and Portuguese cultures and architecture
that attracts an estimated 2.5 million visitors each year (including about
400,000 foreign tourists). Panaji, Goa's state capital is also known as
Panjim, Ponnje or Pangim. It is one of the most charming cities in India.
Goa is a hub of tourism in India. From the 1960s, Goa has been attracting
a steady flow of visitors -- first the hippies and returning expat Goans,
then the charter tourists visiting (starting with the Germans in 1987),
pilgrims visiting Catholic and Hindu shrines, those opting to settle in
Goa as their home, visitors coming here for medical treatment, and a
growing number of those who attend seminars and conferences in Goa. Goa is
visibly different from the rest of India, owing to Portuguese rule which
isolated it from the rest of India for 451 years.
